Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has confirmed his stay with industry leader Red Bull even after the announced departure of star designer Adrian Newey.
“Yes. My trust in the team is still there,” said the 26-year-old Dutchman to the TV channel Sky on the sidelines of the race in Miami this weekend. When asked whether he could rule out a change after this season, the three-time champion replied briefly: “Usually yes.”
The 65-year-old Newey will leave the team in the first few months of next year at the latest. He has been at Red Bull since 2006 and is largely responsible for Sebastian Vettel’s four world championship titles from 2010 to 2013, as well as Verstappen’s triumphs and continued dominance.
“It’s of course a shame that Adrian is leaving now,” said Verstappen before the Grand Prix in the US state of Florida on Sunday, but also added: “I still trust in the team and the people we still have now. There are Lots of good people together who have built an incredible car over the last few years.” The loss of Newey’s knowledge and experience was still “a great shame”.
A spicy affair involving team boss Christian Horner as well as internal power struggles after the death of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022 are said to have persuaded Newey to leave the team and Red Bull. This situation is not leaving World Cup leader Verstappen unscathed; a special clause could allow him to leave well before the end of his contract in 2028. There has been speculation for months about contacts with Mercedes, but Verstappen himself remains publicly committed to his racing team.
